Eternity Centre Kerang

03/06/2026

Don’t Even Look Back
David W Palmer

Following Jesus all the way through this life, and on into eternity, is a very serious undertaking. We need to realize what it will mean, and take full stock of all the ramifications. It won’t be easy, and we need a 100% committed, no-turning-back decision to keep going—no matter what we encounter—to be assessed as “fit for the kingdom of God”:

(Luke 9:57–62 DKJV) It came to pass that as they went along the road, a certain man said to him, “Lord, I will follow you wherever you go.” {58} And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head.” {59} And he said to another, “Follow me”; but he said, “Lord, allow me first to go and bury my father.” {60} Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.” {61} And another said, “Lord, I will follow you; but let me first go and bid farewell to those who are at my house.” {62} And Jesus said to him, “No man, having put his hand to the plough and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

This is an interesting set of conversations between Jesus and some potential followers. He spells out to them the cost of discipleship; he explains the full ramification of starting to follow him and then making it all the way home. Jesus’s concluding statement shows that this is relevant to our salvation; he is talking of being “fit for the kingdom of God.” I certainly want him to assess me as fit for his kingdom, so what is at the heart of his metaphor here?

We may not all be familiar with the “plough” that Jesus mentions—a horse or animal-drawn, hand-guided farm implement of Jesus’s time. Nevertheless, we can easily see that Jesus is speaking about beginning to follow him obediently—dedicating our lives to the ensuing hard work—then wavering in our commitment. Note that he does not say that if one turns back, or lets go, he is not “fit for the kingdom.” No, he says if he is merely “looking back” after he has “put his hand to the plough,” he is not fit for God’s kingdom.

If you look back, this demonstrates that you are in two minds about going forward; your heart is not absolutely fixed, established, and steadfast in faith. If your commitment is this way at the beginning—when you first put your hand to the plough—Jesus knows that it surely won’t survive the testing and challenging times to come. To make it to the end, we will need to deny “self” daily:

(Luke 9:23 NKJV) Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”

Our commitment to keep following Jesus has to be greater than our desire to please ourselves or to protect ourselves from pain. Self-denial is essential to make it through to eternal salvation. Unless you establish your heart in advance to continue loving, walking uprightly, and trusting Jesus no matter what happens; you can easily find justifications to look back, and then to go back. Let’s establish our hearts now in absolute unalterable commitment that we will continue to follow Jesus—even when it means we have to deny what our “self” wants.

02/06/2026

Holiness, a Life of Living Works
David W Palmer

(Ephesians 2:10 ESV) “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

Here, we see that the opposite of dead works are the works God “prepared beforehand” for us to walk in. Repenting of the dead works and walking in the “prepared” works leads to a life of holiness—a life dedicated to God’s purposes in character and actions.[1]

(Hebrews 12:14 NIV) “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.”

God calls us to “holiness”; he reminds us that without it, “no one will see the Lord.” He wants us to be holy so we can enjoy eternal fellowship with him.

In the following passage, the Holy Spirit brings us God’s directive in this when he says, “You also be holy in all manner of life.” Therefore, God instructs us to be holy, and he says that without it we will not see him. Moreover, he empowers us to be holy by giving us his promises and his Holy Spirit.[2]

We can infer from this that holiness (or lack of it) will have a serious impact on our eternal salvation. After all, I cannot imagine a saved person having eternity with God without ever seeing him.

(1 Peter 1:15–16 EMTV) “But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all manner of life, {16} because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy.’”

Holiness is far more than simply not swearing or committing sin; holiness is a life dedicated to God’s purpose, echoing his character, fulfilling his will, and walking in the works to which he has called you. I encourage you to repent of dead works right now, asking God for forgiveness. Turn completely from them—even if you have to change your whole life, including income source. Then pray, asking God for revelation of the works/visions/purposes/assignment he has for you. Walk in them by faith—trusting him completely to guide you, empower you, protect you, and provide for you. Through him, you are a mighty warrior, an overcomer, and a person of overflowing love. But remember on the journey to “do unto others as you would have them do unto you” (See: Luke 6:31).

Do it now; ask God to reveal any dead works you are currently encumbered with. Then ask him to show you how to get free of them so you can enjoy a life of fulfilment and adventure in his will.

Notes: [1]. For a fuller definition and explanation of holiness, see my book: David W. Palmer, Sweatless Holiness,
[2]. (Acts 26:18 KJV) “… Sanctified by faith that is in me.”

01/06/2026

01/06/2026

When Will-Power Becomes Won’t-Power
David W Palmer

When does “will power” become “won’t power”? When we try to use it to overcome the control of sin.

(Romans 7:19 NKJV) “For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.”

In this verse, the apostle Paul says that he tried to use his “will” to stop sinning but it failed miserably (See: Rom. 7). It didn’t work for him, and it won’t work for you either. So what do we do to overcome stubborn sin? Do not try to force yourself to stop sin by the sheer efforts of your own will-power—that is, by trying to choose to directly subdue the “flesh.” This will lead to failure and untold frustration. So what does work?

(Romans 8:13 NKJV) “For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.”

If we try to rely on flesh to overcome flesh, that’s a bit like trying to pick yourself up with your own shoe laces. Paul says we do it, “by the spirit.” So how do we release God’s gracious and holy “Spirit” power to “put to death the deeds of the body” as this verse says? First, you use your willpower exclusively for what God designed it; use it to choose meditating in His word:

(Psalm 119:78 NKJV) “… I will meditate on Your precepts.”

(Psalm 119:15–16 NKJV) “I will meditate on Your precepts, And contemplate Your ways. {16} I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.”

(Psalms 119:48 KJV) My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.

Scripture says, “I will delight”; “I will not forget,” and “I will meditate,” etc. God wants us to use the little volitional power we do have, but not directly against our sinful flesh as this will fail; he wants us to use it to choose to love and absorb his word. His word gives us the leverage we need to move an otherwise immovable object—our sin-addicted flesh.

For example, we cannot move a car by using our [little] physical strength to push it along the road at normal speed. Yet, we can use our limited physical strength for that which the manufacturer intended: rotate the key, engage the transmission, and push the accelerator. He designed the car with an inbuilt power-source that is more than adequate to propel it. Similarly, God’s plan made us into a new creation and gave us a holy power source that is by far superior to the sin-power of fallen flesh.

How do you engage this power? Meditate in his word until you have the faith to engage and release the infinite power of holiness resident in the Holy Spirit. If we do this as he planned, it is like pushing the accelerator with our [limited] physical strength. Our immovable sin-addicted flesh will accelerate into holiness faster than a Ferrari at the Grand Prix.

Can I encourage you today; don’t be defeated by sin’s power. Find scripture verses that promise you holiness, meditate and ingest them into your spirit until faith arises for complete victory. Then release the infinite power of holiness resident in you through your confession of that faith. Here are some promises to get you started:

(Romans 6:14 NKJV) “For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.”

(1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV) “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”

(Acts 26:18 NKJV) “… receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.”

Today, don’t rely on will-power for a victorious head to head with the addictive power of sin in the flesh; as the apostle Paul discovered, it will become “won’t” power and defeat your efforts. Instead, use your will to fill your heart with God’s word until it overflows in a pure confession of faith and holy power through the resident Holy Spirit. Then, by the Spirit, you will put to death the deeds of the body. Enjoy Jesus’s victory over sin … beginning as soon as you start focusing on His word.

31/05/2026

"Be Strong in Faith" - David W Palmer (2026)
The Steps of Abraham's Faith, Part 7

How to Walk in the Steps of Abraham’s Faith
1. Walk Aware that You are Fully in God’s Sight
2. Believe—Learn How Faith Works and Use It
3. Give Life to the Dead
4. Call Things that Do not Exist as though They Did
5. Against Hope, Believe in Hope
6. Go by What God Has Said ... to You
7. Be Strong in Faith
8. Don’t Consider the Visible and the Flesh
9. Don’t Waver at God’s Promise through Unbelief
10. Be Strong in Faith, Giving Glory to God
11. Become Fully Convinced that God Can and Will Perform what He has Promised
12. Always Have Works with Your Faith
13. Add Patience to Your Faith (Heb. 10)
14. Persist (Persistent widow)

(Romans 4:19–20 NKJV) And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. {20} He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God.

Jesus, Lord, Father, God, Holy Spirit, encouragement, faith, spiritual warfare, Rosanna and Dave, Rosanna's Raiders, motivation, motivational, grace, empowering, overcome, vision, dream, fulfilment, turmoil, peace, trust, overload, freedom, life, abundance, decree, declare, call into being, hope,

30/05/2026

"Strong Faith" - Eternity Online Church Program (2026)
Pastors David & Rosanna Palmer
Praise and Worship
Prayer for healing
Living Word

CREATIVE PRESENTATION:
"Walk by Faith, Not by Sight" - Rosanna Palmer
Encouraging, faith-filled message from Rosanna, including excerpts from original songs:
So Many Voices,
Fear not,
Walking by Faith,

SERMON: "Be Strong in Faith" - David W Palmer (2026)
The Steps of Abraham's Faith, Part 7

How to Walk in the Steps of Abraham’s Faith
1. Walk Aware that You are Fully in God’s Sight
2. Believe—Learn How Faith Works and Use It
3. Give Life to the Dead
4. Call Things that Do not Exist as though They Did
5. Against Hope, Believe in Hope
6. Go by What God Has Said ... to You
7. Be Strong in Faith
8. Don’t Consider the Visible and the Flesh
9. Don’t Waver at God’s Promise through Unbelief
10. Be Strong in Faith, Giving Glory to God
11. Become Fully Convinced that God Can and Will Perform what He has Promised
12. Always Have Works with Your Faith
13. Add Patience to Your Faith (Heb. 10)
14. Persist (Persistent widow)

(Romans 4:19–20 NKJV) And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. {20} He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God.

Jesus, Lord, Father, God, Holy Spirit, encouragement, faith, spiritual warfare, Rosanna and Dave, Rosanna's Raiders, motivation, motivational, grace, empowering, overcome, vision, dream, fulfilment, turmoil, peace, trust, overload, freedom, life, abundance,

30/05/2026

"Walk by Faith, Not by Sight" - Rosanna Palmer, Creative (2026)
Encouraging, faith-filled message from Rosanna, including excerpts from original songs:
So Many Voices,
Fear not,
Walking by Faith,

Jesus, Lord, Father, God, Holy Spirit, encouragement, faith, spiritual warfare, Rosanna and Dave, Rosanna's Raiders, motivation, motivational, grace, empowering, overcome, vision, dream, fulfilment, turmoil, peace, trust, overload, freedom, life, abundance,

28/05/2026

When Will-Power Becomes Won’t-Power
David W Palmer

When does “will power” become “won’t power”? When we try to use it to overcome the control of sin.

(Romans 7:19 NKJV) “For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.”

In this verse, the apostle Paul says that he tried to use his “will” to stop sinning but it failed miserably (See: Rom. 7). It didn’t work for him, and it won’t work for you either. So what do we do to overcome stubborn sin? Do not try to force yourself to stop sin by the sheer efforts of your own will-power—that is, by trying to choose to directly subdue the “flesh.” This will lead to failure and untold frustration. So what does work?

(Romans 8:13 NKJV) “For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.”

If we try to rely on flesh to overcome flesh, that’s a bit like trying to pick yourself up with your own shoe laces. Paul says we do it, “by the spirit.” So how do we release God’s gracious and holy “Spirit” power to “put to death the deeds of the body” as this verse says? First, you use your willpower exclusively for what God designed it; use it to choose meditating in His word:

(Psalm 119:78 NKJV) “… I will meditate on Your precepts.”

(Psalm 119:15–16 NKJV) “I will meditate on Your precepts, And contemplate Your ways. {16} I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.”

(Psalms 119:48 KJV) My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.

Scripture says, “I will delight”; “I will not forget,” and “I will meditate,” etc. God wants us to use the little volitional power we do have, but not directly against our sinful flesh as this will fail; he wants us to use it to choose to love and absorb his word. His word gives us the leverage we need to move an otherwise immovable object—our sin-addicted flesh.

For example, we cannot move a car by using our [little] physical strength to push it along the road at normal speed. Yet, we can use our limited physical strength for that which the manufacturer intended: rotate the key, engage the transmission, and push the accelerator. He designed the car with an inbuilt power-source that is more than adequate to propel it. Similarly, God’s plan made us into a new creation and gave us a holy power source that is by far superior to the sin-power of fallen flesh.

How do you engage this power? Meditate in his word until you have the faith to engage and release the infinite power of holiness resident in the Holy Spirit. If we do this as he planned, it is like pushing the accelerator with our [limited] physical strength. Our immovable sin-addicted flesh will accelerate into holiness faster than a Ferrari at the Grand Prix.

Can I encourage you today; don’t be defeated by sin’s power. Find scripture verses that promise you holiness, meditate and ingest them into your spirit until faith arises for complete victory. Then release the infinite power of holiness resident in you through your confession of that faith. Here are some promises to get you started:

(Romans 6:14 NKJV) “For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.”

(1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV) “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”

(Acts 26:18 NKJV) “… receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.”

Today, don’t rely on will-power for a victorious head to head with the addictive power of sin in the flesh; as the apostle Paul discovered, it will become “won’t” power and defeat your efforts. Instead, use your will to fill your heart with God’s word until it overflows in a pure confession of faith and holy power through the resident Holy Spirit. Then, by the Spirit, you will put to death the deeds of the body. Enjoy Jesus’s victory over sin … beginning as soon as you start focusing on His word.

P.S. I will be away from my computer for a few days ministering in Colac. Daily devotional teaching will resume on Wednesday.

27/05/2026

Shaking Everything To See What Comes Loose
David W Palmer

(Hebrews‬ 12:26–27) Whose voice shook the earth at that time; but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” And this, “Yet once more,” makes evident the removing of the things being shaken, as having been made, so that the things not being shaken should remain.

God first spoke to me about “The Shaking” in 1985. At that time, he explained that the objective for me personally was to remove everything that wasn’t obtained by, or built on the firm foundation of his word. After all, only God’s word can provide a foundation so sturdy that we can trust it to build our life on. All other foundations are relatively flimsy; they have no defense against “The Shaking.” Whatever is based on them will shake loose and fall away.

In 1986, God said that the shakings would come like birth pains—getting stronger and closer together as we get nearer to the birth, the return of Jesus. For example, he said that the stock market would crash in a day. This happened overnight as we slept (in Australia) in 1987. He said that rises and falls would follow—like birth pains—“It will rise and fall and crash again (repeatedly); the world’s experts will neither be able to predict nor prevent it.” Why? Because God is doing the shaking. If your financial dealings are based on God’s word and led by the Holy Spirit, you will be ok; God will protect and provide. His objective is not to hurt you, but to reveal the failings of the world’s system.

Over more recent years, we have seen many more shakings: in the stock markets, weather, GFC, nuclear power, wars, terrorism, the pandemic, the EU, politics, sport, and now the media. The main thing to remember in all this is that God’s objective is not to harm his family members that love him. In fact, he can use the turbulent times to bless those who love him; He really is that good. In truth, he is an absolute genius who can outsmart the devil and his people every time:

(Romans 8:28 NLT) And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

What does God require of us in this for us to stay under his protection and in his blessing? Believe, live humbly in obedient holiness, dwell permanently in his secret place with him, and keep your ear close to Jesus’s heartbeat:

(Psalm 91:1 NKJV) He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.‬

(John 13:25 NKJV) Then, leaning back on Jesus’ breast, he said to Him, “Lord, who is it?”

If anything does shake loose from you life and goes from you, realise that it was not in your life by faith in his word. To get ahead of this so it can be a gain not a loss, I suggest you prayerfully ask him if what he said to me applies to you: “Sell what you have, give the money to the poor, and come, follow me.” He encouraged me that if I did this, it would count as a seed that could multiply. If I disobeyed him and tried to keep it, I would lose it anyway. His instructions always are the best way forward; they keep our relationship with him as our Lord intact, and they lead to life, blessing, and victory.